Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this matter. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is on departmental business elsewhere. I assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to the ongoing delivery of vital services and supports to children with disabilities to the greatest extent possible within available resources.

The HSE has recognised that it needs to improve the way in which its early intervention services and services for school-aged children operate. To this end, it is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into multidisciplinary geographically based teams, as part of its national programme on progressing disability services for children and young people, from infancy to 18 years. The key objective of this programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery. There should be a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, where these children go to school or the nature of the individual child's difficulties.

These service improvements are a key priority for the HSE's social care directorate. An additional €4 million was allocated this year to assist with this programme. This equates to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. Further investment in the programme will take place in 2015.

The programme is already at an advanced stage in County Kerry. Since October 2013, children's disability services in Kerry have been reconfigured into four geographically-based teams for children and young people with complex needs. The reconfigured Kerry Intervention & Disability Services, KIDS, is a partnership among the HSE South, the Brothers of Charity, Enable Ireland and St. John of God Children Services.

Each team provides a range of multidisciplinary services, including psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, preschool and family support services.

The transition to the new service arrangement was carefully planned over a two year period. It included consultation with the relevant service providers and parent representatives. The four teams in County Kerry were also allocated four additional therapy posts in 2014, which will further strengthen service delivery in the region.

St. Francis special school in Beaufort falls within the remit of the KIDS mid-Kerry team. This new team will deliver services in keeping with the new service model. Interventions will be delivered in way that is fair to all children and families within the geographical area on the basis of prioritised need. I have been assured the team will continue to work closely with staff and parents in planning and delivering a service for the children attending St. Francis special school.

The issue of respite care places at The Arches which is operated by the St. John of God services was also raised. I understand the provision of this service has been somewhat constrained as a result of the challenging behaviour of a resident. I have been assured steps are being taken which should resolve the matter in the coming weeks. Once resolved, The Arches will be able to offer an enhanced service to children.

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